Lei Liang: "Great Learning" and Opening the Inner Eyes (composer‪)‬ Reflections on Music and Nature

In Chinese, the word for university (大学) translates literally as “Great Learning.” For composer Lei Liang (prof. at UC San Diego), composing at a university means one has the ability to collaborate with and learn from other scholars in vastly different disciplines. The work of Huang Binhong (1865-1955) served as the inspiration for Lei’s orchestral work, “A thousand mountains, a million streams.” Binhong, having lost his sight later in life, demonstrates how a “handicap” can ultimately become a superpower leading to greater creativity. We also talk about the cicadas of his childhood in Beijing, the role of titles for composers/audiences, and how technology can actually deepen our listening practice, among many other topics. Lei also cautions against the dangers of “jumping on the bandwagon” of trendy labels and political expediency.
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YouTube: https://youtu.be/fOs8DgtRzLc 
Lei Liang: https://sites.google.com/site/leiliangcomposer2/
Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP): https://youtu.be/sj3JxTtNsjs?si=kuE9Uesc02imnVNY
Lei Lab: https://lei-lab.ucsd.edu/